Lady Gaga’s foundation has given an award to the Mormon girl who came out to her church
(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella)
Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation has recognised a Mormon teen who came out to her church for her work with LGBT homeless youth.
Savannah, who made international headlines this summer when she came out to her church, has been recognised for her work with LGBT people.
The 13-year-old has been given the ‘Channel Kindness’ award from the Born This Way Foundation for her project that gives care packages to homeless LGBT teens.
Speaking to the Salt Lake Tribune, Savannah said:”I always wanted to help homeless people. That’s why I wanted to go on a [Mormon] mission.
“But you don’t have to go on a mission to help people.”
Savannah is one of eight of recipients for the award this year
Members of the Born This Way Foundation follow Lady Gaga on her 40 city tour with their own ‘Channel Kindness’ tour in order to recognise and reward those who make a positive impact in their communities.
(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix)
According to their website, the Foundation aims to support “the wellness of young people and empowering them to create a kinder and braver world.”
Savannah’s coming out when she was 12-years-old was recorded and quickly went viral due to her moving words.
In her speech to the congregation in the Utah church, she said:”[My parents] did not mess up when they gave me brown eyes or when I was born bald. They did not mess up when they gave me freckles or when they made me gay.
“I do believe he [God] made me this way on purpose. No part of me is a mistake. I do not choose to be this way and it is not a fad.
“I cannot make someone else gay and being around me won’t make anyone else this way.”
Savannah during her coming out speech
“I believe that God wants us to treat each other with kindness, even if people are different. Especially if they are different.”
After Savannah’s heartfelt admission in the summer, she sadly faced a backlash from friends and family and had to change schools due to the negative response to her coming out.
Despite all of this, Savannah remains optimistic and is happy in her new school.
“I try to look for the positive aspects, rather than the negative ones.”
